Electronic trading using market data channels

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods related to financial trading are provided. More specifically, some embodiments relate to systems and methods for electronic trading using market data channels which users can subscribe. Various embodiments of the present technology can provide a suite of devices that are designed to actively modify market data at the intake point (co-location facility) in order to optimally disseminate only relevant information to various applications. These filtered market data channels can then be accessed by trading systems through various subscription models. Various embodiments allow for any type of channel that alters the natural or pure market data feed to produce different data flows and other signals (e.g., triggers, synthetic prices, etc.).

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate tofinancial trading. More specifically, some embodiments relate to systemsand methods for electronic trading using market data channels.

BACKGROUND

A financial market allows traders and entities to buy and sell (i.e.,trade) financial securities (e.g., stocks and bonds), commodities (e.g.,precious metals or agricultural goods), futures contracts, and otherinvestment products. Financial markets work by placing interested buyersand sellers in one “place” (e.g., an actual or electronic marketplace),thus making it easier for market participants to find each other. Atrader is a market participant who buys and sells financial instrumentssuch as stocks, bonds, commodities, options, currencies, andderivatives.

Traders generally follow different timelines for transacting within afinancial marketplace. Position/trend traders may stay in positions forover a few weeks, sometimes up to a year. Swing traders may holdpositions for a few days to a few weeks. Day traders may hold positionsthroughout a trading day (for periods that are sometimes as short as afew seconds or as long as a few hours) and finish the day with no openpositions. This form of trading requires the trader to be present infront of the computer when trading is occurring and to quickly reviewpotentially profitable transactions based on the market data.

In addition to manual trading, electronic trading uses electronicplatforms to automatically enter trading orders generated by computeralgorithms. The computer algorithms may generate orders based on avariety of market data, rules, and variables. Examples of the marketdata include price and quantity of orders in the market.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described and explainedthrough the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a network-based environment in whichsome embodiments of the present invention may be utilized;

FIG. 2 illustrates various components and interactions in a tradingplatform according to one or more embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates various components of a channel device which may beused in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a set of operations for generatingmarket orders based on channel data in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a set of operations for processingorders in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating various communications betweencomponents of a system supporting market data channels in accordancewith some embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a computer system with which someembodiments of the present invention may be utilized.

The drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be expanded orreduced to help improve the understanding of the embodiments of thepresent invention. Similarly, some components and/or operations may beseparated into different blocks or combined into a single block for thepurposes of discussion of some of the embodiments of the presentinvention. Moreover, while the invention is amenable to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have beenshown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detailbelow. The intention, however, is not to limit the invention to theparticular embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention isintended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate tofinancial trading. More specifically, some embodiments relate to systemsand methods for electronic trading using market data channels to whichusers can subscribe. Exchange market data can include many components,but primarily consist of the bids and offers for contracts, notificationthat a trade has occurred, and streaming updates on changes in the orderbook. Market data may be “top of book” only, which is restricted to thebest bid and best offer and last traded quantity/price. Market data mayalso consist of the entire order book (all bids and offers at allprices) for a given contract, regardless of how close a given bid oroffer is to the inside market.

Traditionally, market data has been disseminated from exchanges andother marketplaces electronically without any filter other than theability of the exchange to turn off a specific contract's price feedaltogether (either by choice of the user or due to subscription levelagreements with the user). While some trading software providers providefor a filtering of prices outside a certain range (i.e., only displaythe best five bid prices and best five offer prices), there is currentlyno system that provides custom filters across a wide range of variables.

In contrast, various embodiments of the present technology provide asuite of devices and mechanisms (e.g., Field Programmable Gate Arrays(“FPGAs”), hardware/software combinations, application specificintegrated circuits (“ASICs”) or similar technologies) that are designedto actively modify market data at the intake point (co-locationfacility) in order to optimally disseminate only relevant information tovarious applications. These filtered market data channels can then beaccessed by trading systems through various subscription models. Variousembodiments allow for any type of channel that alters the natural orpure market data feed to produce different data flows and other signals(e.g., triggers, synthetic prices, etc.). In some embodiments, ordergeneration could occur on the FPGA chip, or on an adjacent FPGA chip,without having to involve a separate trading platform or device.

Some of the advantages and technical effects of the present technologyinclude more efficient analytic computations and calculations forelectronic trading. Traditionally, analytics and calculations aremanaged at the application level. By making common calculations andrefinements “on the wire,” redundant calculations can be minimized andapplications can work more efficiently at trade execution. Additionally,stripping “noise” or otherwise useless or unwanted data at the inceptionpoint allows for smaller bandwidth between communication points. Forexample, market data received at one exchange's co-location site mightbe sent to a server at another exchange's co-location site, where thefirm's execution application resides. In addition, under existingarchitectures, the full market data stream from the first exchange wouldbe sent to the second exchange's co-location site, requiring significantbandwidth. By sending tailored streams of data this bandwidth need isgreatly reduced creating a variety of advantages. Given the move bymajor players in the industry to microwave transmission between sites(which can be extremely expensive from a bandwidth standpoint) thisbandwidth reduction could greatly increase the number of strategies thatare economically and technically feasible. Other advantages andtechnological effects can be easily appreciated by those of ordinaryskill in the art.

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will beapparent, however, to one skilled in the art that embodiments of thepresent invention may be practiced without some of these specificdetails.

Moreover, the techniques introduced here can be embodied asspecial-purpose hardware (e.g., circuitry), as programmable circuitryappropriately programmed with software and/or firmware, or as acombination of special-purpose and programmable circuitry. Hence,embodiments may include a machine-readable medium having stored thereoninstructions that may be used to program a computer (or other electronicdevices) to perform a process. The machine-readable medium may include,but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical discs, compact discread-only memories (CD-ROMs), magneto-optical discs, ROMs, random accessmemories (RAMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs),electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs),application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), magnetic or opticalcards, flash memory, or other type of media/machine-readable mediumsuitable for storing electronic instructions.

The following applications provide various examples and details oftrading interfaces and systems are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety for all purposes: U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/463,753 entitled “METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SHOWING PERSPECTIVE INMARKET DATA” filed on May 3, 2012, U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/837,945 entitled “METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR SHOWING PERSPECTIVE INMARKET DATA” filed on Mar. 15, 2013, and U.S. Patent Application No.61/909,969 entitled “PROVIDING GUARANTEED EXECUTION OF MARKET SPREADS”filed on Nov. 27, 2013.

Terminology

Brief definitions of terms, abbreviations, and phrases used throughoutthis application are given below.

The phrases “in some embodiments,” “according to some embodiments,” “inthe embodiments shown,” “in other embodiments,” and the like generallymean the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following thephrase is included in at least one implementation of the presentinvention, and may be included in more than one implementation. Inaddition, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodimentsor different embodiments.

The term “module” or “engine” refers broadly to general orspecific-purpose hardware, software, or firmware (or any combinationthereof) components. Modules and engines are typically functionalcomponents that can generate useful data or other output using specifiedinput(s). A module or engine may or may not be self-contained. Dependingupon implementation-specific or other considerations, the modules orengines may be centralized or functionally distributed. An applicationprogram (also called an “application”) may include one or more modulesand/or engines, or a module and/or engine can include one or moreapplication programs.

General Description

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a network-based environment in whichsome embodiments of the present invention may be utilized. Theembodiments illustrated in FIG. 1 show user interfaces 110A-110N runningon computing devices 120A-120N. Computing devices 120A-120N can be anycomputing device capable of receiving user input as well as transmittingand/or receiving data via trading platform 130. Trading platform 130 canconnect via network 140 to financial market 150 through data channels160 and also to database 170. While only one trading platform 130, onenetwork 140, two electronic marketplaces 150, and one inventory database170 are illustrated in FIG. 1, other embodiments may include additionaland/or fewer trading platforms 130, networks 140, electronicmarketplaces 150, and/or inventory databases 170.

In one embodiment, computing devices 120A-120N may be a conventionalcomputer system (e.g., a desktop or laptop computer), a tablet computer,or a mobile device having computer functionality (e.g., a mobiletelephone or a smart-phone). Computing devices 120A-120N may beconfigured to communicate with trading platform 130. In someembodiments, computing devices 120A-120N can retrieve or submitinformation to trading platform 130 and run one or more applications forinteracting with a user. For example, computing devices 120A-120N canexecute a browser application or a customized client to enableinteraction between the computing devices 120A-120N and trading platform130.

Trading platform 130 may include one or more servers capable of allowingtraders to submit and manage orders (natural or synthetic) with anexchange or electronic marketplace 150. For example, trading platformmay allow a trader to submit orders for stocks, options, futurecontracts, commodity contracts, etc. Trading platform 130 can be used togenerate, manage, execute, distribute, and/or record trading and/oraccount data received from various sources (e.g., third-party dataproviders, financial institutions, etc.) through various interfaces. Insome embodiments, trading platform 130 can include various dataprocessing and analytic tools allowing users of the trading platform tomake better trading decisions. In some embodiments, computing devices120A-120N can be used to setup various automated or partially automatedtrading algorithms.

Trading platform 130 may be a third-party service accessed by variousfinancial institutions or individuals. In some cases, a trading firm,individual or unaffiliated users, exchange members, and/or other groupsmay sign up for the service and submit and manage orders. In otherembodiments, trading platform 130 may be a private or restrictedplatform that is owned and operated by an individual financialinstitution and only allows access to members of a trading firm orgroup. Trading platform 130 may charge a fee for service or providevarious membership levels offering different analysis features.

Network 140 can include any combination of local area and/or wide areanetworks using both wired and wireless communication systems. In oneembodiment, network 140 uses standard communications technologies and/orprotocols. Thus, network 140 may include links using technologies suchas Ethernet, 802.11, worldwide interoperability for microwave access(WiMAX), 3G, 4G, CDMA, digital subscriber line (DSL), etc. Similarly,the networking protocols used on network 140 may include multiprotocollabel switching (MPLS), transmission control protocol/Internet protocol(TCP/IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), hypertext transport protocol(HTTP), simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) and file transfer protocol(FTP). Data exchanged over network 140 may be represented usingtechnologies and/or formats including hypertext markup language (HTML)or extensible markup language (XML). In addition, all or some links canbe encrypted using conventional encryption technologies such as securesockets layer (SSL), transport layer security (TLS), and InternetProtocol security (IPsec).

As illustrated in FIG. 1, trading platform 130 can access market datafrom various channel devices 160. Channel devices 160 may be stand-alonedevices or integrated with other devices (e.g., with a router orswitch). Each channel generated by channel devices 160 can customize theinformation before broadcasting to subscribers. For example, channeldevices 160 could generate a channel that modifies the native marketdata so that all one lot orders are removed from a given market datastream so that traders, autospreaders, or other trading systems within afirm do not react to insignificant data. As another example, thesedevices could generate a channel that modifies the native market data sothat all orders that have not been in the book for a certainminimum/maximum/specific resting time are removed, displayed, orincluded in the channel. Another channel generated by these devicescould modify the native market data so that orders are removed thatoriginate from within the firm. This channel provides the additionalbenefit of defusing the intent component of self-match/wash tradeviolations, which typically require knowledge of others' orders orintent. Other examples include, but are not limited to, channels thatprovide synthetic calculations, filtering by counterparties, or otheruser-defined/system-defined characteristics.

As another example, channel devices 160 could generate a channel thatmodifies the native market data so that only orders originating withinthe firm are displayed. This can provide risk management benefits in theability to view the firm's impact on the market at an enterprise level,plus the ability to internalize or match orders off-exchange in order tominimize exchange costs. Another channel may only stream firm-wide fillinformation. Channel devices 160 could also generate a channel thatmodifies the native market data so that market data from fragmentedmarkets is consolidated (different equity markets trading the samestocks, for example). As another example, a market data feed ofindicators, synthetic prices, or triggers is presented that can belistened to by applications or viewed by users (implied prices that useproprietary models, for example) may be available on another channel.

Some embodiments of the technology enable multiple rule sets acrossdifferent contracts and spreads, and then offer these refined streams aschannels that a user can request to enhance their trading. For example,an e-mini S&P future contract native stream could be refined into tendifferent channels with ten different characteristics (filters,weightings, etc.). Similar filters or channels could be applied to thegold future contract. A user could then determine that S&P channel threeand gold channel seven provide the optimum inputs for his or her tradingstyle or algorithm. Still yet, some embodiments allow for channelsdevices 160 to filter, process, or synthesize information from multiplefinancial markets 150.

Inventory database 170 can store a variety of information that can beutilized by trading platform 130 and/or electronic marketplaces 150(e.g., stock market, bond market, capital market, foreign exchangemarket, futures market, etc.). For example, database 170 may have storedthereon trading and/or account data and information about each user suchas, but not limited to, age, contact information, e-mail address,membership level, activity logs, trading logs, and other information. Inaddition, order information such as, but is not limited to, timereceived, time executed, identification of a financial product, orderidentifier, order type, quantity, financial market, restrictions, owner,routing information, current status, and the like may also be stored indatabase 170.

FIG. 2 illustrates various components and interactions in a tradingplatform 130 according to one or more embodiments of the presentinvention. According to the embodiments shown in FIG. 2, tradingplatform 130 can include memory 205, one or more processors 210,communications module 215, channel selection module 220, data processingmodule 225, rule module 230, pricing module 235, trading engine 240, andgraphical user interface (GUI) generation module 245. Other embodimentsof the present invention may include some, all, or none of these modulesand components along with other modules, applications, and/orcomponents. Still yet, some embodiments may incorporate two or more ofthese modules and components into a single module and/or associate aportion of the functionality of one or more of these modules with adifferent module. For example, in one embodiment, communications module215 and channel selection module 220 may be combined into a singlemodule for receiving, selecting, and processing data from the variouschannels.

Memory 205 can be any device, mechanism, or populated data structureused for storing information. In accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention, memory 205 can encompass any type of, but is notlimited to, volatile memory, nonvolatile memory and dynamic memory. Forexample, memory 205 can be random access memory, memory storage devices,optical memory devices, media magnetic media, floppy disks, magnetictapes, hard drives, SDRAM, RDRAM, DDR RAM, erasable programmableread-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmableread-only memories (EEPROMs), compact disks, DVDs, and/or the like. Inaccordance with some embodiments, memory 205 may include one or moredisk drives, flash drives, one or more databases, one or more tables,one or more files, local cache memories, processor cache memories,relational databases, flat databases, and/or the like. In addition,those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate many additionaldevices and techniques for storing information which can be used asmemory 205.

Memory 205 may be used to store instructions for running one or moreapplications or modules on processor(s) 210. For example, memory 205could be used in one or more embodiments to house all or some of theinstructions needed to execute the functionality of communicationsmodule 215, channel selection module 220, data processing module 225,rule module 230, pricing module 235, trading engine 240, and/or GUIgeneration module 245.

Communications module 215, in accordance with one or more embodiments ofthe present invention, manages and translates any requests from a user(e.g., received through a graphical interface screen), application,trading platform, financial market, channel device, or tool into aformat required by the destination component, platform, tool, and/orsystem. Similarly, communications module 215 may be used forcommunications between modules, databases, and/or systems that usedifferent communication protocols, data formats, and/or messagingroutines. In some cases, communications module 215 can be used tomonitor and decode various channels and raw market data feeds.Communications module 215 may also be responsible for handling anyaccess challenges needed to access the various channels being broadcastfrom the channel devices.

Channel selection module 220 can be communicably coupled tocommunications module 215 and used to select which channelcommunications module 215 should access. In some embodiments, channelselection module 220 can determine which channels should be accessedbased on various trading requirements or specific channel accessrequests set by a user or trading algorithm. For example, a user couldinput their desired trading requirements (e.g., into channel selectionmodule 220) and then receive an indication of which channel(s) bestmatch the user's parameters. In addition, channel selection module couldalso provide instruction sets for creating the desired channel data byadditional filtering on the application level (e.g., at the tradingapplication). Similarly, channel selection module 220 may publish a setof fixed channels to users and the user can select (e.g., through agraphical user interface) which channels they would like to see and use.In some embodiments, channel selection module 220 can be used by theuser to create a new channel.

Various examples of trading requirements include, but are not limitedto, that all one lot orders are removed from a given market data stream,that all orders that have not been in the order book for a certainminimum/maximum/specific resting time are removed, that all orders areremoved that originate from within the firm, that only ordersoriginating within the firm are displayed, or the need for variousindicators, synthetic prices, or triggers. In some embodiments, whenthere is no channel that meets the needed requirements, channelselection module may be used to send the requirements to a channelcoordinator that can setup a customized channel.

Data processing module 225 can provide additional processing of themarket data, triggers, synthetic prices, or other signals retrieved fromthe channels. Rule module 230 manages multiple rule sets acrossdifferent contracts and spreads, and then offers these refined streamsas channels that a user can request to enhance their trading. Theserules can be used by pricing module 235 to create synthetic prices whichcan be used to create orders that can be submitted by trading engine240.

GUI generation module 245 can generate one or more GUI screens thatallow for interaction with a user of the mobile device. In at least oneembodiment, GUI generation module 245 generates a graphical userinterface allowing a user of the mobile device to set preferences,create trading algorithms, present reports, and/or otherwise receive orconvey information between the user and the trading platform.

FIG. 3 illustrates various components of a channel device 160 which maybe used in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.According to the embodiments shown in FIG. 3, channel device 160 caninclude memory 305, one or more processors 310, broadcast module 315,channel rules 320, and one or more channels 330 of customized datafeeds. Other embodiments of the present invention may include some, all,or none of these modules and components along with other modules,applications, and/or components. Still yet, some embodiments mayincorporate two or more of these modules and components into a singlemodule and/or associate a portion of the functionality of one or more ofthese modules with a different module. For example, in one embodiment,the functionality of broadcast module 315 and channel rules 320 may beincorporated into a single module.

Memory 305 can be any device, mechanism, or populated data structureused for storing information as described above with reference to memory205. Memory 305 may be used to store instructions for running one ormore applications or modules on processors 310. For example, memory 305could be used in one or more embodiments to house all or some of theinstructions needed to execute the functionality of user broadcastmodule 315, channel rules 320, and channels 330.

Broadcast module 315 can be any device or mechanism capable oftransmitting signals and data from channels 330. For example, broadcastmodule 315 may include point to point transmission devices such asmicrowave transmitters, satellite communications transmitters, opticalcommunication devices, or any other type of communication devices.Broadcast module 315 may include various hardware or software encryptionmodules that are capable of encrypting the signals before they arebroadcast over channels 330. In some embodiments, channels 330 may havedifferent bandwidth or latency requirements. Broadcast module 315 canmonitor the channels and ensure these and other requirements are met.

Channel rules 320 are the rules used to create the filters, triggers,synthetic prices, and/or other signals produced by the channels. A ruleset may create additional filters of certain market data that is notproductive to act on. For example, the rules may only display orders ona channel that exceed twenty, or only display orders that have been inthe order book for x amount of time, etc. Successful rule sets could beplaced on the market data server via FPGA programming, and thendistributed throughout the firm. Some channel rules can be used tofilter out all other orders by the user firm, conversely, or onlydisplay orders submitted by the user's firm. The former rule couldassist in preventing trades that could be considered wash trades, apractice prohibited by most exchanges and market regulators. In general,wash trades occur when a trader intentionally executes both a buy and asell in the same contract at the same price (a “self-match”), and marketregulators discourage firms from self matching even among differenttraders within a firm. For example, if a trader placed a buy order inthe book, the order could still be filled by another firm order.

In various embodiments, due to the filter, the traders would have noknowledge that the opposite order existed before they entered it intothe order book (i.e., use of this channel defuses any intent or intentinference by the regulators). These types of order filtering channelswould also work for electronic strategies, as regulators attempt to usea “known or should have known” standard when looking at self-matchactivity to create a wash trade violation. For example, by using achannel that only displays firm orders, this channel would allow a firmto show an internal market for orders that, if acted on, would not besent to an exchange. This internalization activity saves on transactioncosts and, since the orders do not cross the exchange, is not a washtrade. Additionally, this data can be a valuable risk management tool byshowing the firm's activity in a consolidated manner.

Channel rules 320 can also enable multiple rule sets across differentcontracts and spreads. The rules then offer these refined streams as‘channels’ that a user can request to enhance their trading. Forexample, an e-mini S&P contract could be refined into 10 differentchannels with 10 different characteristics, with the same processapplied to a gold contract. A user could determine that S&P channel 3and gold channel 4 provide the optimum inputs for his/her trading styleor algorithm responses.

Channels 330 can be any device and/or mechanism (e.g., FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (“FPGAs”), hardware/software combinations, orsimilar technologies) that actively modify market data at the intakepoint (co-location facility) in order to optimally disseminate onlyrelevant information to various applications. These filtered market datachannels can then be accessed by trading systems through varioussubscription models. Various embodiments allow for any type of channelthat alters the natural or pure market data feed to produce differentdata flows.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a set of operations 400 forgenerating market orders based on channel data in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present invention. The operations illustrated inFIG. 4 can be performed by various systems and components such astrading platform 130, electronic marketplace 150, channel devices 160,processor(s) 310, broadcast module 315, channels 330, and/or otherdevices, systems, components, and/or modules. As illustrated in FIG. 4,receiving operation 410 receives channels customizations or rules. Thechannel customizations or rules can originate from a firm, a trader(human or algorithm), an administrator, or other authorized individualor system component. Programming operation 420 uses the channelcustomizations to program one or more channels.

Once programmed, the channel devices can receive market data from one ormore marketplaces during data operation 430. In some embodiments, dataoperation 430 may include a decoding operation that decodes ortranslates the data into a desired format for processing. Routingoperation 440 routes the market data to custom filters and/or datasynthesizers where customized data streams and/or other signals arecreated. The market data and/or other signals are then published on achannel during publishing operation 450. Subscribers to the channel maythen generate market orders based, at least in part, on the channel dataand/or other signals during generation operation 460.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a set of operations 500 forprocessing orders in accordance with various embodiments of the presentinvention. The operations illustrated in FIG. 5 can be performed byvarious systems and components such as user interface 110A-110N,computing devices 120A-120N, trading platform 130, processor(s) 210,channel selection module 220, data processing module 225, rule module230, trading engine 240, and/or other devices, systems, components,and/or modules. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a trader can enter electronictrading criteria during setup operation 510.

Availability determination operation 520 determines if channels areavailable that can reduce the processing load of the algorithm. Ifavailability determination operation 520 determines that no channels areavailable, the algorithm can be created and saved using creationoperation 530. In that case, orders are processed based on traditionalmarket data. If availability determination operation 520 determines thatchannels are available, then availability determination operation 520branches to subscription operation 540 where a determination is made asto whether the trader has already subscribed or is willing to subscribeto the channel(s). If subscription operation determines that asubscription is not available or that the trader is unwilling tosubscribe, then subscription operation 540 branches to creationoperation 530. If subscription operation determines that a subscriptionis available or that the trader is willing to subscribe, thensubscription operation 540 branches to simplification operation 550where the algorithm is simplified base on the channel subscriptions.Once created, processing operation 560 processes orders based on thechannel data.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating various communications betweencomponents of a system supporting market data channels in accordancewith some embodiments of the present invention. A trader (human orelectronic) can access the trading platform using a trading interface.The trading platform can allow the trader to subscribe to one or morechannels by sending a request to the appropriate channel device orsubscription management service. As the raw market data is broadcast,the channel devices can process the data according to the channel rulesand publish the channel data to the trading platform. Then, based on thechannel data and possibly trader inputs, one or more orders can begenerated. These orders are then submitted to the financial market forexecution. Once executed, the financial market can submit a confirmationto the trading platform.

Exemplary Computer System Overview

Aspects and implementations of the channel-based trading system of thedisclosure have been described in the general context of various stepsand operations. A variety of these steps and operations may be performedby hardware components or may be embodied in computer-executableinstructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose orspecial-purpose processor (e.g., in a computer, server, or othercomputing device) programmed with the instructions to perform the stepsor operations. For example, the steps or operations may be performed bya combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example machine representingthe computer systemization of the channel-based trading system. Thechannel-based trading controller 700 may be in communication withentities including one or more users 725 (e.g., human and non-humanusers/traders), client/terminal devices 720 (e.g., devices 120A-120N),user input devices 705, peripheral devices 710, an optional co-processordevice(s) (e.g., cryptographic processor devices) 715, and networks 730(e.g., 140). Users may engage with the controller 700 via terminaldevices 720 over networks 730.

Computers may employ central processing unit (CPU) or processor(hereinafter “processor”) to process information. Processors may includeprogrammable general-purpose or special-purpose microprocessors,programmable controllers, application-specific integrated circuits(ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), embedded components,combination of such devices and the like. Processors execute programcomponents in response to user and/or system-generated requests. One ormore of these components may be implemented in software, hardware orboth hardware and software. Processors pass instructions (e.g.,operational and data instructions) to enable various operations.

The channel-based trading controller 700 may include clock 765, CPU 770,memory such as read only memory (ROM) 785 and random access memory (RAM)780 and co-processor 775, among others. These controller components maybe connected to a system bus 760 and through the system bus 760 to aninterface bus 735. Further, user input devices 705, peripheral devices710, co-processor devices 715, and the like, may be connected throughthe interface bus 735 to the system bus 760. The interface bus 735 maybe connected to a number of interface adapters such as processorinterface 740, input output interfaces (I/O) 745, network interfaces750, storage interfaces 755, and the like.

Processor interface 740 may facilitate communication betweenco-processor devices 715 and co-processor 775. In one implementation,processor interface 740 may expedite encryption and decryption ofrequests or data. Input output interfaces (I/O) 745 facilitatecommunication between user input devices 705, peripheral devices 710,co-processor devices 715, and/or the like and components of thecontroller 700 using protocols such as those for handling audio, data,video interface, wireless transceivers, or the like (e.g., Bluetooth,IEEE 1394a-b, serial, universal serial bus (USB), Digital VisualInterface (DVI), 702.11a/b/g/n/x, cellular, etc.). Network interfaces750 may be in communication with the network 730. Through the network730, the controller 700 may be accessible to remote terminal devices 720(e.g., client devices 180). Network interfaces 750 may use various wiredand wireless connection protocols such as, direct connect, Ethernet,wireless connection such as IEEE 702.11a-x, and the like.

Examples of network 730 include the Internet, Local Area Network (LAN),Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), wirelessnetwork (e.g., using Wireless Application Protocol WAP), a securedcustom connection, and the like. The network interfaces 750 can includea firewall which can, in some embodiments, govern and/or managepermission to access/proxy data in a computer network, and track varyinglevels of trust between different machines and/or applications. Thefirewall can be any number of modules having any combination of hardwareand/or software components able to enforce a predetermined set of accessrights between a particular set of machines and applications, machinesand machines, and/or applications and applications, for example, toregulate the flow of traffic and resource sharing between these varyingentities. The firewall may additionally manage and/or have access to anaccess control list which details permissions including, for example,the access and operation rights of an object by an individual, amachine, and/or an application, and the circumstances under which thepermission rights stand. Other network security functions performed orincluded in the functions of the firewall, can be, for example, but arenot limited to, intrusion-prevention, intrusion detection,next-generation firewall, personal firewall, etc., without deviatingfrom the novel art of this disclosure.

Storage interfaces 755 may be in communication with a number of storagedevices such as, storage devices 790, removable disc devices, and thelike. The storage interfaces 755 may use various connection protocolssuch as Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), IEEE 1394,Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), and the like.

User input devices 705 and peripheral devices 710 may be connected toI/O interface 745 and potentially other interfaces, buses and/orcomponents. User input devices 705 may include card readers, fingerprint readers, joysticks, keyboards, microphones, mouse, remotecontrols, retina readers, touch screens, sensors, and/or the like.Peripheral devices 710 may include antenna, audio devices (e.g.,microphone, speakers, etc.), cameras, external processors, communicationdevices, radio frequency identifiers (RFIDs), scanners, printers,storage devices, transceivers, and/or the like. Co-processor devices 715may be connected to the controller 700 through interface bus 735, andmay include microcontrollers, processors, interfaces or other devices.

Computer executable instructions and data may be stored in memory (e.g.,registers, cache memory, random access memory, flash, etc.) which isaccessible by processors. These stored instruction codes (e.g.,programs) may engage the processor components, motherboard and/or othersystem components to perform desired operations. The controller 700 mayemploy various forms of memory including on-chip CPU memory (e.g.,registers), RAM 780, ROM 785, and storage devices 790. Storage devices790 may employ any number of tangible, non-transitory storage devices orsystems such as fixed or removable magnetic disk drive, an opticaldrive, solid state memory devices and other processor-readable storagemedia. Computer-executable instructions stored in the memory may includeone or more program modules such as routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, and so on that perform particular tasks orimplement particular abstract data types. For example, the memory maycontain operating system (OS) component 795, modules and othercomponents, database tables, and the like. These modules/components maybe stored and accessed from the storage devices, including from externalstorage devices accessible through an interface bus.

The database components can store programs executed by the processor toprocess the stored data. The database components may be implemented inthe form of a database that is relational, scalable and secure. Examplesof such database include DB2, MySQL, Oracle, Sybase, and the like.Alternatively, the database may be implemented using various standarddata-structures, such as an array, hash, list, struct, structured textfile (e.g., XML), table, and/or the like. Such data-structures may bestored in memory and/or in structured files.

The channel-based trading system controller 700 may be implemented indistributed computing environments, where tasks or modules are performedby remote processing devices, which are linked through a communicationsnetwork, such as a Local Area Network (“LAN”), Wide Area Network(“WAN”), the Internet, and the like. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules or subroutines may be located in both localand remote memory storage devices. Distributed computing may be employedto load balance and/or aggregate resources for processing.Alternatively, aspects of the controller 700 may be distributedelectronically over the Internet or over other networks (includingwireless networks). Those skilled in the relevant art will recognizethat portions of the channel-based trading system may reside on a servercomputer, while corresponding portions reside on a client computer. Datastructures and transmission of data particular to aspects of thechannel-based trading controller 700 are also encompassed within thescope of the invention.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,”“coupled,” or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling,either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling orconnection between the elements can be physical, logical, or acombination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,”and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer tothis application as a whole and not to any particular portions of thisapplication. Where the context permits, words in the above DetailedDescription using the singular or plural number may also include theplural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to alist of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretationsof the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list,and any combination of the items in the list.

The above Detailed Description of examples of the invention is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed above. While specific examples for the invention are describedabove for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications arepossible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in therelevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or blocks arepresented in a given order, alternative implementations may performroutines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a differentorder, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added,subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative orsubcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented ina variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are attimes shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks mayinstead be performed or implemented in parallel, or may be performed atdifferent times. Further any specific numbers noted herein are onlyexamples: alternative implementations may employ differing values orranges.

The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to othersystems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements andacts of the various examples described above can be combined to providefurther implementations of the invention. Some alternativeimplementations of the invention may include not only additionalelements to those implementations noted above, but also may includefewer elements.

These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of theabove Detailed Description. While the above description describescertain examples of the invention, and describes the best modecontemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, theinvention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may varyconsiderably in its specific implementation, while still beingencompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above,particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology isassociated. In general, the terms used in the following claims shouldnot be construed to limit the invention to the specific examplesdisclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Descriptionsection explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope ofthe invention encompasses not only the disclosed examples, but also allequivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under theclaims.

To reduce the number of claims, certain aspects of the invention arepresented below in certain claim forms, but the applicant contemplatesthe various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Forexample, while only one aspect of the invention is recited as acomputer-readable medium claim, other aspects may likewise be embodiedas a computer-readable medium claim, or in other forms, such as beingembodied in a means-plus-function claim. (Any claims intended to betreated under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) will begin with the words “means for”,but use of the term “for” in any other context is not intended to invoketreatment under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).) Accordingly, the applicant reservesthe right to pursue additional claims after filing this application topursue such additional claim forms, in either this application or in acontinuing application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising:receiving, through a trading platform running on one or more servers, aset of trading criteria; accessing, through the trading platform, one ormore channels broadcast from a channel device, wherein the one or morechannels publish customized market data created by the channel device,and wherein the channel device processes a raw market data feed;determining which of the one or more channels broadcast from the channeldevice to access based on the set of trading criteria; submitting, to achannel coordinator, a channel creation request in response todetermining that none of the one or more channels simplifies a tradingalgorithm, wherein the channel device actively modifies the market data,at a co-location facility, to disseminate the customized market data tothe trading algorithm; accessing, from the channel device, the channelcreated in response to the channel creation request, wherein the channelis implemented on a field programmable gate array or applicationspecific-integrated circuit based on a set of criteria that simplifiesthe trading algorithm; generating, at the trading platform, a marketorder based on the trading criteria and the customized market datapublished by the channel device; and submitting, from the tradingplatform, the market order to an electronic marketplace.
 2. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the customized marketdata removes all lots below a size threshold from the raw market datafeed.
 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at leastone of the one or more channels removes orders that originate fromwithin a firm or only includes orders that originate from within thefirm.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the channeldevice transmits the one or more channels using microwave technology,low-latency wireless technology, or laser communication technology. 5.The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising creatinga trading algorithm based on the one or more channels.
 6. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, atthe trading platform, a summary of available channels.
 7. A systemcomprising: a trading platform including: a communications module toaccess channels broadcast from one or more channel devices, wherein thechannels include modified market data; a channel selection module to (i)select the channels to access based on a received set of tradingcriteria and (ii) submit a channel creation request in response todetermining that none of the one or more channels simplifies a tradingalgorithm, wherein the channel device actively modifies the market dataat an intake point to disseminate the modified market data to thetrading algorithm; and a trading engine to: access, from the channeldevice, the channel created in response to the channel creation request,wherein the channel is implemented on a field programmable gate array orapplication specific-integrated circuit based on a set of criteria thatsimplifies the trading algorithm, and generate market orders based onthe modified market data retrieved from the channels and submit themarket orders to an electronic marketplace for execution.
 8. The systemof claim 7, wherein the received set of trading criteria is submitted bya trader through a graphical user interface.
 9. The system of claim 7,wherein one of the channels includes modified market data in which alllots below a size threshold from a raw market data feed are removed. 10.The system of claim 7, wherein one of the channels includes modifiedmarket data in which orders that did not originate from within a firmare removed.
 11. The system of claim 7, wherein one of the channelsincludes modified market data that only includes orders that originatefrom within a firm.
 12. The system of claim 7, wherein thecommunications module includes a microwave receiver to receive channelsbroadcast using a microwave transmitter, a low-latency wirelesstransmitter, or a laser.
 13. The system of claim 7, wherein the one ormore channel devices are collocated with an intake point of a raw marketdata feed.
 14. A non-transitory machine-readable medium carryinginstructions, which when executed by at least one data processor, causea machine to: determine, based on a set of received trading criteria,which of one or more channels broadcast from a channel device to access,wherein the one or more channels publish customized market data createdby the channel device, and wherein the channel device processes a rawmarket data feed; submit a channel creation request in response todetermining that none of the one or more channels simplifies a tradingalgorithm, wherein the channel device actively modifies the market data,at a co-location facility, to disseminate the customized market data tothe trading algorithm; access, from the channel device, the channelcreated in response to the channel creation request, wherein the channelis implemented on a field programmable gate array or applicationspecific-integrated circuit based on a set of criteria that simplifiesthe trading algorithm; generate a market order based on a tradingalgorithm and the customized market data published by the channeldevice; and submit the market order to an electronic marketplace. 15.The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein thecustomized market data removes all lots below a size threshold from theraw market data feed.
 16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium ofclaim 14, wherein at least one of the channels removes orders thatoriginate from within a firm.
 17. The non-transitory machine-readablemedium of claim 14, wherein at least one of the channels only includesorders that originate from within a firm.
 18. A system comprising: acommunications module to (i) receive market data, (ii) determine whichof the one or more channels broadcast from a channel device to accessbased a received set of trading criteria, and (iii) submit a channelcreation request in response to a determination that none of the one ormore channels simplifies a trading algorithm, wherein the channel deviceactively modifies the market data at an intake point to disseminate thecustomized market data to the trading algorithm; a memory having storedthereon a set of rules to create modified market data for a channel; amodification engine to modify the market data in accordance with the setof rules; and a broadcast module to broadcast the modified market datain the channel to a subscriber.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein thechannel includes modified market data in which all lots below a sizethreshold from a raw market data feed are removed.
 20. The system ofclaim 18, wherein the channel includes modified market data in whichorders that did not originate from within a firm are removed or thatonly includes orders that originate from within the firm.
 21. The systemof claim 18, wherein the communications module, memory, modificationengine, and broadcast module are on a switch or router.
 22. The systemof claim 18, wherein the memory and the modification engine areimplemented on a field programmable logic array or application specificintegrated circuit.
 23. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein the channel device decodes the market data into a desired formatfor processing and routes the market data to custom data synthesizers tocreate the customized market data.